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Software Engineering Resources

System EngineeringBefore software can be engineered, the 'system' in which it resides must be understood. To accomplish this, the overall objective of the system must be determined, the role of hardware, software, people, database, procedures, and other system elements must be identified, and operational requirements must be elicited, analyzed, specified, modeled, validated, and managed. It is these activities that are the foundation of system engineering. The following topic categories are presented:

System Engineering FundamentalsThe downloadable guide addresses topics that "include the systems engineering process; system analysis and control; and planning for, organizing, and managing systems. The guide provides a basic, conceptual-level description of SEM as it relates to the development and life cycle management of a system."

System Engineering GuidebookAn indepth guidebook developed by Federal Highway Administration and the California Department of Transportation. Provides five different "views" of the subject. Recommended.

Systems Engineering Standards and Models Compared (pdf)Currently there are five systems engineering standards in various stages of release and three systems engineering capability models. This makes it difficult to know what to use as a basis for process improvement. This in-depth paper discusses the similarities and differences among the standards and models.

For those readers actively involved in systems work or interested in a more sophisticated treatment of the topic, Gerald Weinberg's books provide an excellent discussion of "general systems thinking" that implicitly leads to a general approach to system analysis and design: